And yet He came - John 12:27-28

Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save Me from this hour'? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.  
John 12:27-28

Some things to ponder as we read Jesus' words:

* Anyone who questions the humanity of Christ needs only to read the text above... shall I say? 'Father, save Me from this hour'?

* This is a rare glimpse into the thoughts of Christ as He prayed to the Father. Notice how "real" He is.

* Jesus, facing the agony of the cross, is more concerned about the Father's glory than His own comfort.

* He knew that pain and suffering were necessary to accomplish His mission... and yet He came.

Think on these things.

Cheers

John 12:23-26

The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.   John 12:23-26

I wonder what can be accomplished through our lives if we simply hand them over to the Lord...? 

Jim Elliot may have said it best:

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.

Cheers.

Enter... The King! John 12:12-13

The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out:
"Hosanna! 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!' The King of Israel!"
John 12:12-13

Oh that the story had ended there or here:

Matt. 21:1–9

Mark 11:1–10

Luke 19:29–38

It must have been an amazing sight to see.  The King of Glory receiving praise as the city came out to welcome Him.  But they did not mean it...

Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!' (Luke 13:35)

He will return. At His first coming, He was (and still is) a lowly Shepherd and Friend of sinners.  The next time, He will come as a conquering King.

I wonder sometimes what I would have done that day?  Rejoiced with the crowd? Joined Jesus' ban of disciples? Ignored it all? 

What would you have done?

Cheers.

Labels and John 12:3-6

Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.  John 12:3-6

Isn't that the truth? You know... I really want to assume the best of people, but once they have proven their character (or lack of), it is hard to see a thief and liar for anything other than that. 

I am thankful that of all the labels the Lord can attach to me, the one He uses is:

FORGIVEN AND REDEEMED SON

Cheers.

Learning the easy(er) way and Psalm 119:100

I understand more than the elders
because I obey Your precepts.
Psalm 119:100

I am not a fan of the Holman Christian Standard Bible, but this verse is spot on.

David is not boasting in a prideful way as it might seem on the surface.  He is exalting the Word of God.  Thank about it.  Would you rather:

a) Learn the hard way through struggle and, possibly, punishment for sin, or

b) Learning ahead of time from studying the Word of God?

How many difficult situations could have been softened or even avoided (!) if you and I had heeded the warning or precept that speaks directly to that situation?

Or put it another way:

There is the option of learning from the examples of others.

You don't have to repeat the poor decisions others have had to pay for.

Cheers.

Jesus Wept... John 11:32-36

Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she qfell down at His feet, saying to Him, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died." Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. And He said,  "Where have you laid him?" They said to Him, "Lord, come and see." Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, "See how He loved him!"  John 11:32-36

"Jesus wept." (v35)

Not only is that the shortest verse in the Bible... it is a powerful one!

He wept: He was fully man.

He wept: He relates to our pain.

He wept: He loves us!

He wept: He is grieved over the effects of sin.

He wept: He is compassionate.

He wept: He is tasted death understanding fully well what would take place.

When you are down, distraught, lonely, or the like... take comorf in knowing Jesus loves you and showed it!

Cheers.

The Resurrection and the Life John 11:23-25

Jesus said to her,  "Your brother will rise again." Martha said to Him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."
Jesus said to her,  "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.  And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?" John 11:23-25

That is the BIG question.  

It's not how often you go to church, or how many "good deeds" you do.  It's not how you treat your pets, or what important cause you give your life to.

Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the life and life Giver?

Cheers.

Not so Doubting Thomas John 11:16

Then Thomas, who is called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with Him."   John 11:16

Isn't it interesting that we are often remembered for our faults.  This is the same "Doubting Thomas" that questioned the Lord's resurrected state later in the Gospel of John.

Brethren... if we want to leave a godly legacy, our faith requires consistency.

Cheers.

Are you man enough? A blog from the past...

(from 09/03/09)

What does Paul mean when he says:
 
Husbands... love your wives as Christ loved the church....(Ephesians 5:25)
 
Think about some of the implications of this verse:
 

• Jesus loved the church before it was founded.  (He died for HER)
• Jesus loves the church now and intercedes for her.  (He lives for HER)
• Jesus loves the church so much that He will one day come to claim His bride.  (He longs for HER)
• Jesus loves the church so much that He will never leave her nor forsake her.  (He loves HER)

Husbands, those are some tall orders from our King.
 
Are you man enough?


Originally posted at:
http://connectiontogod.blogspot.com/2009/09/are-you-man-enough.html

The Tiny Guide to Being a Great Dad

I know, it's not Father's day... but here is a fantastic article about about fathering...

http://zenhabits.net/great-dad/

Testing the Testimony John 10:37-38

If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.

John 10:37-38

Interesting... no?

Jesus asks His doubters to consider His works, if they point to His credentials.

I wonder sometimes if the testimony of my hands matches the testimony of my mouth.

You might do well to wonder the same thing.

Cheers.

You're in Good Hands John 10:27-30

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. I and My Father are one.  John 10:27-30

Have you ever glued your hands together?

No...?

So I am the only one then?

If you have trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior, picture this...

You are in Jesus' hands, His hands are in the Father's hands, and according to Ephesians 1:13, the Holy Spirit is like Super Glue keeping the two together.

Next time you questions God's love for you or plan for you... meditate on these things.

Cheers.

Bringing in the Sheep John 10:15-16

As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.  John 10:15-16

It always interests me when I learn that someone is adopted.  What it must be like to know that someone loved you enough to choose you and take you home with them,,, to love and to care for.  That is simply beautiful.

Jesus is talking to Jews at this point and makes reference to you and me.  We are some of the  other sheep He has which are not of that fold.  We heard His voice, answered the call and followed Him.  Like an adopted child we were chosen and taken home.

I don't know about you, but I rejoice in that truth.

Cheers.

That's Life... John 10:9-10

I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.  The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.  John 10:9-10

The Life of Christ is not only available NOW... it is part of the deal.  There is much talk about the abundant life... what it is and what it isn't.  Let's bypass all the hype:

The abundant life is the Life of Christ in you.

Take a moment to let that sink in... I'll wait.

The life that loved you and gave Himself for you is yours.

The life that rejoiced in the presence of the Father is yours.

The life that taught the masses and healed the wounded is yours.

If you enter in through Christ, He offers you HIS LIFE...!

The abundant life is a life of joy, service, memories, hope... and yes, suffering for the Gospel.

So I guess the question is... have you entered into the sheepfold?

Cheers.

Even right now. John 9:35-38

Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him,  "Do you believe in the Son of God?"
He answered and said, "Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?" And Jesus said to him,  "You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you." Then he said, "Lord, I believe!" And he worshiped Him.  John 9:35-38

...and he worshiped Him.  What a fitting way to show adoration to the Savior.  So I guess the question is: When is the right time to worship?

That's right friends... all the time, every time.

Even right now.

Cheers.

Reason Enough John 9:1-7

Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"
Jesus answered,  "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. I must work the works of Him who
sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.  As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.  "When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. And He said to him,  "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing. John 9:1-7

Isn't that always the case?  We assume that the challenging, difficult, and otherwise, unfair situations in our lives are the direct result of sin. True, some of what we experience is simply the law of SOWING AND REAPING playing itself out... but not all of it.

The fact of the matter is friends... Jesus sometimes uses our greatest weakness and trial to manifest His power.  Shouldn't that be reason enough?

Cheers.

Caught in the very act! (John 8:3-6)

Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?" This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.  John 8:3-6

Yes... someone(s) was caught in the very act.  And it was the men trying to catch Jesus.

How often do we look at the faults of others?

My, my, my... is that a speck of dust in your eye? (Matthew 7:5 and John 7:24)

Think about that.

Cheers.

YOUR hour had not yet come (John 7:28-30)

Then Jesus cried out, as He taught in the temple, saying, "You both know Me, and you know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. But I know Him, for I am from Him, and He sent Me." Therefore they sought to take Him; but no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come. John 7:28-30

Are there moments, even days, when we feel the pressure to stand down... to walk away when we should stand tall?  Have you even sat quietly, even thought he Holy Spirit urged you to speak up?  Jesus had two things going for Him:

1. He was/is God and knows the truth.

2. His hour had not yet come.

Friends, until YOUR hour has come... you are, in a very real way, bulletproof.  

Think about that...

Cheers.

The work of God (John 6:27-29)

Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him." Then they said to Him, "What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?"  Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent." John 6:27-29

I love old-time preachers.  One of my favorite is G. Campbell Morgan.  He would frequently end his sermons with:

"Salvation is not in running, but in resting. Not in trying, but in trusting.  May the Lord visit us with restlessness until we come to rest in Him."

Praise the Lord that He requires my faith and not my performance.

Cheers. 

Backdoor revival (John 6:65-66)

And He said, "Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father." From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.  John 6:65-66

There is a great temptation among most pastors to skip over texts that are "hard" because it may drive people away.  

Romans 8:29-30 tells us, For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. 

Ephesians 1:5 and 11 declare, He predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will…In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.

That is just one example... but what about submission in marriage? What about... dare I say it... money!?!?

Look though at the Master and see what's going on.  Jesus preached and preached hard words and what happened?  Those who were not going to last anyway, fell off.  That, my friends, is what we call "backdoor revival".  

Sometimes loss is actually gain.

Cheers.